Ultra-cheap microscope made of paper.

Foldscope is a paper microscope that costs less than one dollar but is very durable and extremely convenient.

"In short, this is a fantastic device," entomologist and science reporter Aaron Pomerantz wrote on his website last month after taking the telescope to the Amazon rainforest in Peru.

Specimen under the magnifying lens of the Foldscope. Photo: CNN

"I can study insects, parasites, fungi, and plant cells from 140X to 480X magnification."

The glasses are the invention of Manu Prakash, a biotechnology expert at Stanford University. They have the ability to magnify up to 2,000 times. "It's very simple, easy to assemble and use, even for children," Prakash said.

"We hope to spark people's curiosity," Prakash said. "Our ambition is for every child to be able to carry a microscope in their pocket."

According to CNN, the microscope is printed on cardboard and takes only a few minutes to assemble using origami (traditional Japanese paper folding). The paper, lenses, and other components cost only $0.50.

Last year, Prakash and his team distributed 10,000 Foldscopes to test users. Beyond sparking curiosity, Prakash hopes Foldscope can help healthcare workers diagnose bloodborne diseases quickly, safely, and affordably at the scene.

"I wanted to create the best disease detection tool we could, practically giving it away for free. The result of this project is something we call a disposable microscope," he stated on the Stanford blog last year.

According to VnExpress